Nozzle



B. G. COPPING June 13, 1950 NOZZLE Filed March 31, 1945 W m Q 0 0 5 5% Ca Wm M E Patented June 13, 1950 NOZZLE Bruce G. Copping, Fulton County,Ga., asslgnor to The Coca-Cola Company, Wilmington, Del., a

corporation of Delaware Application March 31, 1945, Serial No. 585,886

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to the beverage industry, and has as its primaryobject the provision of means whereby carbonated water may be dispensedwhile retaining a very large percentage of the carbonation it originallyheld within the carbonator itself.

The instant case may be considered a continuation in part of myco-pending application Serial No. 480,108, filed March 22, 1943, nowPatent No. 2,495,210, January 24, 1950, for Automatic valve, etc., andmy co-pending application Serial No. 513,577, filed December 9, 1943,now Patent No. 2,469,327, May 3, 1949, for Beverage dispensing device.

The first case disclosed the employment of very small capillary spaces,through which carbonated water was forced to flow, said spaces being ofthe order of .002 inch in width. These very small spaces presented twodisadvantages from a practical standpoint: First, it was found difficultto machine passages of this size within the necessary limits ofaccuracy; and secondly, these very small spaces sometimes became pluggedup with foreign mater as found in certain water supplies.

Case Serial No. 513,577 disclosed a capillary nozzle of the so-calledgrooved type, which type was an improvement over the first, in that itwas found possible, by using grooved type passages, to increase the sizeof the passages from approximately .002 inch to .01 inch, which increasein size was found to be extremely beneficial from a practical operatingstandpoint, although it was also thought that an even furtherenlargement of said passages would be most desirable. The presentapplication discloses means for accomplishing this.

An object of my invention is to provide a capillary nozzle which willdispense carbonated water with a minimum loss of carbonation betweencarbonator and the discharge end of the nozzle.

Another object is to provide such a nozzle which will dispensecarbonated water with a minimum of foaming.

Another object is to provide cheapness of construction in such a nozzle.

A still further object is to provide economy of operation and a minimumof working parts in a capillary nozzle.

Another object is to provide a capillary nozzle which will not becomestopped up because of the presence of foreign matter in water.

Another object is to provide a nozzle of the instant type, which may bereadily cleaned.-

These and other objects made apparent dur- 2 ing the further progress ofthis specification are accomplished by means of my multiple-thread,helical capillary nozzle, a full and complete understanding of which isfacilitated by reference to the drawing herein, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a nozzle embodying myinvention, associated with a source of carbonated water supply;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, in which the water is flowingthrough the nozzle; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view, principally in vertical cross-section,showing in detail the helical threads of the nozzle structure per se.

As has been previously disclosed, the underlying principle of thecapillary nozzle is that the passages are of such design as to use up infriction, substantially all of the pressure energy of the fluid flowingthrough the nozzle, and to do this while maintaining streamline flow inthe fluid. The rate at which the pressure energy of the liquid is usedup varies directly as the length of the capillary passage, and inverselyas the fourth power of the diameter of the capillary passage. From this,it is apparent that it is mathematically possible, without changing theloss of pressure energy of the liquid, to increase the diameter of thepassage, if a compensating increase in the length of the passage ismade. It is also apparent that, since the loss of pressure variesinversely as the fourth power of the diameter and directly as thelength, a very large increase in length is necessary to permit a smallincrease in diameter. For example, if it were desired to double thediameter, it would be necesary to increase the length sixteentimes tocompensate. This has heretofore been found impractical, because of spacelimitations, but my invention overcomes this difliculty, and permits theuse of a long capillary passage within a comparatively small space.

Referring now to the drawing, Fig. 1, I0 is a carbonator filled withcarbonated water under pressure, and H is a threaded boss at the bottomof said carbonator, said boss having in it a liquid pasage I 2, and avalve seat l3. I4 is an outer sleeve, and I5 isthe capillary plug uponthe surface of which are formed a plurality of V-shaped helicalcapillary passages 16. Capillary plug 15 is preferably a shrink fitwithin the outer sleeve l4, and may be permanently retained in theposition shown after the shrink assembly.

I! is a valve on the end of a valve rod 18, said valve and valve rodbeing forced upwardly against the valve seat [3 by means of avalvespring I9.

20 is a nozzle piece which may be screwed onto the lower end of thevalve rod l8.

In operating the valve, downward pressure is applied to the upper faceof the nozzle piece 20, and the said nozzle piece forced downwardly.Valve rod I8 and valve I! are simultaneously drawn downwardly againstthe pressure of spring l9, and valve seat I3 is thus uncovered, whichresults in carbonated water escaping from carbonator l0, through liquidpassage I2 into chamber 2|.

From chamber 2|, the water passes through V- shaped helical capillarypassages l6, and as a result of the fluid friction in these passages,and the change of angular velocity necessitated by the helical shape ofthe structure, the pressure energy of the liquid is substantially usedup, and the carbonated water exits from the lower end of the helicalcapillary passages at approximately atmospheric pressure, and atrelatively low velocity. By this means, there is only very slighttendency to disturb the carbonic acid gas in the liquid, and thecarbonated water retains a very large percentage of the carbonation itoriginally held when within the carbonator itself.

From the discharge end of the helical capillary passages, the waterpasses through the nozzle piece 20, and thence into a. glass or otherdesignated receptacle below.

It will be noted that the arrangement of the capillary passages in theform of a helix has a distinct and new advantage over that described inmy original disclosures as referred to heretofore. The prime object ofthe multiple-thread capillary is to use up the potential energy of theliquid in friction and to avoid as much as possible the conversion ofthis potential energy into velocity energy. By arranging the capillarypassage into a helical shape, the carbonated water, in passing throughthe passage, is made to travel through a helical path, and as a resultthere is a constant and substantial change in the angular velocity ofthe liquid passing through. This change of velocity can only beaccomplished through the expenditure of energy, and thus there is beingused up a very substantial amount of the energy of the liquid incontinuously changing its angular velocity with the resultant setting upof secondary currents in the liquid. Hence, in addition to the energyused up by fluid friction through the passages, the helical capillaryuses up a large amount of energy because of its inherent shape.

As stated heretofore, it was previously considered necessary incapillary nozzles to have very small passages, in order to createsufficient friction to use up all of the available energy. The instantinvention uses up to a substantial amount of such energy by virtue ofthe helical shape of the passage, and hence there is less energy left tobe used up in friction, and it is accordingly possible to enlarge thesize of the capillary passage, while attaining the optimum results ofmaintaining high carbonation and eliminating foaming at the nozzle. Thisenlargement of passage is of extreme practical importance, since thelarger the passage, the less prone it is to become clogged with foreignmatter in the water; the easier it is to clean; and the more readily thedevice may be initially manufactured in an economic manner.

As stated heretofore the original capillary nozzle, described in myco-pendlng application first mentioned herein, used passages which wereof the order of .002 inch in width. A subsequent improvement, in theform of the so-called grooved type of capillary nozzle, as described inmy second-mentioned patent application, made it possible to employpassages .01 inch in width. In the present helical capillary nozzle, ithas been found practical to increase the size of these passages to .042inch, this being a substantial improvement over the preceding cases,both from a practical operating and manufacturing standpoint.

At the same time it will be understood that the exact dimensions of thecapillary passages, the number of turns, the diameter in which theyturn, etc., are dependent upon the conditions prevailing in a particularuse application. For example, if

' employed on a typical soda fountain where the operating pressure ofthe carbonator may be as high as pounds to the square inch, a somewhatdifferent capillary is indicated to that required on a cup vendingmachine where the operating pressure of the carbonator may be 60 pounds.To give a practical indication of the nature and size of these passages,however, it may be stated that in a cup machine, the capillary elementmay consist of three parallel threads having 60 enclosed angle with analtitude of .042 inch and a width at the widest point of the V of .065inch. The threads are on the outside of a cylinder of approximately 1inches 0. D.; and the entire capillary element has an actual length inthis instance of inch.

No limitation of any kind or nature is intended by examples set forth inthis specification, which examples are intended only to effectuate theclear and complete disclosure principle embodied in the letter and thespirit of the patent statutes.

The enlarged structure shown in Fig. 3, omits the valve illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2, in order that the basic nozzle structure may be moreclearly evident. Control means in the liquid passage l2, or elsewhere,may be employed to govern the flow of fluid to the nozzle, thisarrangement being preferable in certain applications.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have taught a new and improvedmultiple thread helical capillary nozzle, which uses up the potentialenergy of carbonated water in friction, and avoids to a large degree theconversion of this potential energy with resultant undesirable foamingand loss of carbonation. That my device is simple in structure, facileof manufacture, efficient in operation, and. thoroughly desirable forits intended purposes.

Structures described herein are by way of example, and not intended toimply any limitations whatsoever. The appended claims are to be fairlyconstrued in keeping with my contribution to the art.

I claim:

1. Carbonated water dispensing apparatus comprising in combination, atank for the storage of a body of carbonated water under pressure, aconduit through which carbonated water may flow from the tank, a valvefor controlling the flow of carbonated water through said conduit, andmeans, positioned posterior to said valve, defining a channel to receivecarbonated water issuing from said conduit under tank pressure when thevalve is open and to conduct the same to a discharge port open to theatmosphere and from which port the carbonated water may pass directlyinto a receiving vessel, said channel being substantially uniform incross section throughout and of such length and cross sectional area 76that turbulence is substantially prevented, loss of carbonationminimized and the pressure energy of the carbonated water substantiallyexhausted in overcoming frictional resistance to flow before it reachessaid discharge port, so that the carbonated water is delivered at lowvelocity and without substantial foaming.

2. Carbonated water dispensing apparatus comprising in combination, atank for the storage of a body of carbonated water under pressure, aconduit through which carbonated water may flow from the tank, a valvefor controlling the flow of carbonated water through said conduit, andmeans, positioned posterior to said valve, defining a plurality ofchannels adapted to receive carbonated water issuing from said conduitunder tank pressure when the valve is open and to conduct the same todischarge ports open to the atmosphere and from which ports thecarbonated water may pass directly into a receiving vessel, each of saidchannels being substantially uniform in cross section throughout and ofsuch length and cross sectional area that turbulence is substantiallyprevented, loss of carbonation minimized and the pressure energy of thecarbonated water substantially exhausted in overcoming frictionalresistance to flow before it reaches said discharge port, so thatcarbonated water flowing through said conduit and channels is ultimatelydelivered from said ports in streams which issue at low velocity andwithout substantial foaming.

BRUCE G. COPPING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,162,982 Crocker Dec. 7, 19151,373,829 Perdue Apr. 5, 1921 1,679,177 Seymour July 31, 1928 1,734,026Bijur Oct. 29, 1929 2,091,042 Hedges Aug. 24, 1937 2,126,991 GriswoldAug. 16, 1938 2,132,011 Bennett et a1. Oct. 4, 1938 2,143,565 Minea Jan.10, 1939 2,185,267 Rice Jan. 2, 1940 2,323,115 Bryant June 29, 19432,331,527 Welty Oct. 12, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date244,830 Great Britain Jan. 18, 1935

